NationStates Jolt Archive

Several days after the departure of the Monavian royals from Chalcedon to attend the coronation of Anne of Conately and her subsequent marriage to Henry of Doncaster, which, due to unfortunate circumstance that are to be enumerated later, did not take place, they arrived at the airport there, almost unscheduled. The notice of their arrival was transmitted from the Queen Theodora Islands, where they had landed to refuel and leave for the city. It was unexpected that they would arrive so soon, but it would soon be known just why they had left so hastily.

The events of the previous weeks had been the cause of much misfortune and grief for many of the affected parties, and the resulting diplomatic upset, which was now expanding in proportion and severity, originated even earlier, well over two years previously.

After a return from isolationism, which had existed for over twenty years in the wake of a series of international crises, a letter arrived from one Lord Chancellor Jan Sebastien, who had urged that a document, known as "LEX SALISBRUGIS REGNUM XXVII" needed to be ratified in order to preserve the integrity of a foreign power. As the terms were not very encumbering or demanding, and the rewards for adherence served to benefit the Empire much if their observance took place, it was not much of a question for them to sign it. Among its terms was the promise to refuse safety or provide a haven for a traitor and terrorist, one Archibald Salisbury.

Archibald was unknown in Monavia, but subsequent exchanges of information soon proved the extend of his vile and ruinous schemes. He had been imprisoned to avert the possibility of supplanting the legitimate government of the reigning sovereign, William V. He had escaped, and presented a threat to the Salisbrugic Dominion, as well as Monavia, now a signatory tot he treaty. For much time, its provisions had been enforced, and the Monavians were regarded as being among the most stalwart and loyal allies of the Dominion.

After the passage these two years, the Dauphin of Cotenshire, Prince Peter Salisbury, was assassinated by a man whose true loyalties had yet to be proven or ascertained. Shortly afterward, the other prince, Leopold, was killed during a hunting excursion, and the king, William, was believed to have also been assassinated. Duke Wallenheim, a relative and supporter of the king, had taken upon himself many of the duties of the monarchy, and had busied himself with quashing the multiple rebellions which took place. It was later announced that Anne and Henry would be married and coronated, thus providing a solution to the apparent interregnum which was presumed to have begun.

The Monavians had chosen to attend the coronation, however, it had never taken place as of the present. Upon arriving, they found themselves in the company of King William, and were later evacuated to Inverness, a royal castle and palace outside of Caen, for their safety after a spy was discovered aboard King William's land yacht, a curious method of transportation which was, to their knowledge, unique to Coteshire. There, at the castle, an attempt was made upon their lives in the form of a lethal airborne poison, blood sarin.

Though they had escaped the attempt, many servants, loyal to King William's house, had been killed by the gas, and only a few of the people present had escaped. Within the castle, they were again tormented by another assassination attempt, where they were nearly avoided being made into Swiss cheese by a regiment of riflemen, who were found out to be loyal to Archibald. He appeared in person, but was unable to accomplish his duplicitous task, for he had encountered too much resistance.

Sir Grunovich, royal spymaster to King William, had taken upon himself the task of dueling Archibald, who had already fought Duke Wallenheim and divested him of an arm, albeit temporarily, and had suffered several injuries in doing so. Archibald was forced to escape, and the Monavians left, seeing that their safety had nearly been compromised several times, in addition to learning of sabotage to their aircraft.

Thus did they find reason to depart for their own country, where they could be more sure of their safety, and perhaps that of their guests. The plane was to land soon, and few people remained fully at ease.

Proceeding over the green fields and meadows which stretched for many miles beneath it, the Monavian royal plane, MRA-1, was cruising at almost maximum speed through the crisp, chilly air toward the city. The normal landing procedures were followed and it soon landed in Chalcedon, where the passengers disembarked. There was little ceremony, as the royals were soon off of the plane.

Several valets and hired servants carried most of the luggage, although no one dared to bother Queen Elizabeth, who was much irritated with the attempts on her life and those of her husband and Mr. Carter, with the offer to carry her weighty handbag, which she clutched like a vise. She had become quite flustered as she returned, although it was believed that she would soon be free from the annoyances that encumbered her.

This thread is the "sequel" to Dauphin Assassinated.

The Queen’s irritability was shared by their guests from the Dominion. It quickly became obvious to any astute observer that Lord Sebastien was deeply disgruntled with the King’s choice for his replacement. He kept to himself, and while he denied that there was any problem, his poisonous countenance spread throughout the rest of the group.

During the process of disembarking from their respective planes and meeting with one another for a briefing on what was to happen, the discussion between the King and Lord Rodderwick somehow turned to the state of the Royal Parliament.

“My liege,” stated Lord Rodderwick, “I had been mingling with your peerage for some time before I was named to my current position. You see, some of the said peers had gathered, and many of these men were blessed enough to have possessed seats in Parliament. To put it succinctly, they had requested my consultation for purposes of modifying the Ajael wool tariffs—“

“Please, Lord Rodderwick,” interrupted the King. “I know not of such things. Do not bore me with them.”

“Well, then, I shall get to the point.”

“You shall not if it is about wool tariffs.”

“My liege, you would want to know about this. As you no doubt are aware, in conversations on weighty matters of policy and finance, the path of the discourse often meanders through the realms of other trifles. In this instance it just so happened upon the topic of several Parliamentary delegates who one such gentleman in the group believed were troublesome.”

“Who, and how so? Pray tell.”

“Well, my liege, if he mentioned their names at all, I have no recollection of them. He said, however, that they felt you were deliberately manoeuvring to block their attempts to vote on legislation regarding the small arms monopoly.”

The King was noticeably startled. “What?! I have done no such thing, Lord Rodderwick.”

“Yes, I am aware of that, my liege. However, they interpret your absence as refusal to consent to the vote. There are many such men who hold beliefs that you are trying to avoid the issue. Others are angered over what they perceive as your attempts to deny them an audience with you.”

“All lies! Believe none of this, Rodderwick,” cried King William. “Why, these petty men can wander in their halls of lies for all I care.”

“Well, Your Majesty, their transgressions are quite vulgar. Your moderation is admirable, but would it not be more appropriate to censure their attacks?”

“You are right, Rodderwick. We cannot have this behavior out of those who I have graced with a Parliamentary seat. I shall issue an order that will prevent my Parliament from convening until it shows greater respectability.”

Lord Sebastien had overheard this conversation, and he had wanted to continue sulking until now, but his desire to express his opinion had become unbearable. “My liege, I believe that such an action is rather hasty, and is not at all warranted when considering the gravity of those insults levied against you.”

Lord Rodderwick was taken aback by Lord Sebastien’s entry into their affairs. “Sir, you are in no place to criticise the King’s actions. The proposed solution he has put forth is not at all unreasonable. You shall rescind your admonitions if you wish to appear civil.”

As annoyed as the King was by the news delivered by Lord Rodderwick, he would not allow their bickering to tarnish what he thought of as a leisurely excursion. “Well, there is nothing here that should come between two distinguished men such as you. Worry yourself not, Lord Sebastien, for it is unlikely that my decision is final. This quarrel shall be sorted out by more temperate measures when we return.”

Both Rodderwick and Sebastien wanted to point out that it was periods of absence such as the current one that were causing many of these problems in the first place, and that the King should not continue to ignore them. They held their tongues, however, because it had been made clear that the King would not stand for any more debate.

The group, having gathered outside their planes, now stood in a state of awkward melancholy, and this made them more than compliant when the Monavians informed them as to where they should be going.

The disembarked party had not stood by the plane long when three black limousines drove up to the tarmac. The first was for Mr. Carter and his staff, as well as the royal secretary. The second was for the royal couple and a few of their staff. The third, perhaps thirty feet long and decorated with gilded trimmings, was for the Cotenshirick delegation.

Before they entered their vehicles, Mr. Carter strolled up to Sebastien and Lord Rodderwick, now being more rested and able to deal with his duties of state as a result of a decent night of rest on board his plane. It was being taxied to a hanger, separate from the royal craft, while the unloading process was being taken care of. Ground security was light, as most of the troops and guards had left or were en route to other locations.

"I will be brief, as it would not be very polite of me to keep you waiting here for too long in the chilly air. We will be proceeding under a light guard, to avoid drawing too much attention, to the royal palace, where we can stayin relative safety. The limousine at the end is for you and Lord Roddewick, and His Majesty."

Several trucks also drove up to carry the baggage to the palace, and a number of police escorts were arriving to relieve the guard units, which were being sent back to their barracks. Departure would take place shortly thereafter.

"I will be brief, as it would not be very polite of me to keep you waiting here for too long in the chilly air. We will be proceeding under a light guard, to avoid drawing too much attention, to the royal palace, where we can stayin relative safety. The limousine at the end is for you and Lord Roddewick, and His Majesty."
“Thank you, Mr Carter,” said Sebastien. “You are kind, as always.”

While the intervention of the Monavians had temporarily broken the uncomfortable atmosphere between the Dominion party, their sour moods were not alleviated. This was especially observable in the King, who had been rather displeased at his vacation’s ignoble start. He was silent at first when entering the limousine. After several minutes, however, a complaint erupted from him in an affronted tone of a voice.

“Why must we ride in this infernal jeep?”

Lord Sebastien responded: “My liege, it is called a limousine.”

“Well name it whatever you wish, Sebastien. Such a carriage is inappropriate for so esteemed a guest. I do not see how there could be any security concerns, and even if there were, I am sure that they could have armoured a more appropriate vehicle.”

“I would attribute their choices to cultural differences, my liege. Not everyone can be as civilised as you. Now, when we next have the opportunity, I shall suggest that we thank the Monavians. They have obviously gone to severe trouble in decorating this truck.”

Shortly after the limousines had left the airport, they drove onto the surface streets of the city. Chalcedon was a sight to behold, perhaps as it had a population of several million people, but also because of the level of technological advancement which was present here. Passing both modern skyscrapers clad in glass and polished metal frames and older neoclassical buildings, the three limousines and a steadily growing police presence wound their way toward their final destination.

It would be a while before they would reach the palace. Due to the nature of their arrival and the dangers which the pernicious Doncasterians had presented so recently, little ceremony or attention had been permitted for this occasion. Keeping attention to a minimum was a priority of the highest order, and no one wished to garner any unwanted stares. Onlookers on the concrete sidewalks observed as the royal motorcade proceeded through the busied road system. While the roads were kept in such a state of perfect construction and preservation as to render them the envy of neighboring nations, they still carried heavier than normal traffic at this particular time of day. The commute was expected to last for twenty minutes.

Mr. Carter was somewhatr dismayed by the thought of allowing his guests to experience any discomfort. He knew that automobiles were not fancied by citizens of the Dominion, but a carriage drawn by a horse would be too heavy to draw if it possessed a comparable compliment of security measures. It would, as Mr. Carter realized, also be quite too slow to travel on the regular surface streets, and would have to travel thhrough narrower two lane residential and commersial roads, which would lengthen the trip to nearly an hour.

The King looked out on the scenery of Chalcedon. He had not seen anything like this city, and, as all cities, he found it utterly disgusting. Those with whom he shared the limousine cabin were immediately made aware of his feelings.

“What is this? Lord Sebastien, do you know?”

“Are you meaning to ask me about the towers, my liege? They are, after all, some of the more striking features of our periphery.”

“Yes, those are towers? Who would build a tower in that manner with those materials? Your King is no architect, but he knows that stone is greatly stronger than mirrors or some other form of glass. I concede that these towers are taller than any I have yet seen, but with one rudely propelled artillery shell the entire structure will shatter.”

Sebastien answered his concerns again. “My liege, I believe I can propose an explanation. While having never resided in one of these towers myself, I believe that their purpose is not towards defense of the city, but rather towards less hostile activities. These buildings most likely house offices, and as we know, offices are often dimly lit. This building may sacrifice structural integrity by being constructed purely out of windows, but it gains an advantage in that the maximum amount of natural light is provided for its occupants.”

The King pondered for a moment, and then struck back. “Well, obviously these men are fools. If they wanted light from the sun, why not make a large, flat building with a window instead of a ceiling?”

“My liege, I am sure that they would if their faculties were so capable. As you can see, however, the vertical nature of such a tower increases the space that may be allocated to desks and shelves as compared to a flat building situated upon the same parcel of land. The motivations of this tower design emerge from the scarcity of space that exists in the urban landscapes of both Monavia and the Dominion, as well as by the cost of such a plot, since the price customarily climbs with its requisition.”

The King appeared annoyed that his proposition was so easily refuted, but Lord Rodderwick looked absolutely aghast.

“Lord Sebastien, are you sure about what you are telling us?”

“I am not completely sure, Lord Rodderwick, but I know that the principles I have outlined are used in other cities of other states when constructing towers of similar appearance. I thought that such practices would offend your sensibilities.”

“And do they not yours, sir? Why, what species of Jew conjured up this scheme? This is not the first method of wicked acquisition I have encountered, but it is among the most horrific.”

“Well, Lord Rodderwick, I also find these commercial towers to be rather unpalatable. What elicits my skepticism is your uncouth and candid response.”

Rodderwick turned to the King. “Do you see this man before us, Your Majesty? This is what becomes of a man who lives among the bourgeois. He is already so jaded to evil that he encounters its spawn with hospitable amity.”

“Lord Chancellor, that is quite enough of your rhetoric. I am as offended as you are. Indeed, if God had intended for men to stack the floor of one building on the roof of another, then he would have decreed that the wind blow up and down rather than east and west. Man was given the fruits of the land so long as he tended to it. He cannot steal the harvest of the air without any such labour. As Lord Sebastien has already admitted, he finds these practices of the Monavian Jewry to be reprehensible. Now, let us discontinue our irritability.”

Several minutes of silence passed before the King’s complaints again emerged.

“Why are we to drive through these throngs? What security threat is so dire that we must plow through the grounds of the commoners?”

Again Lord Sebastien provided an answer. “My liege, I believe that this road was previously a country road to the palace. Since a monarchy is so vast a source of wealth, populations were naturally attracted to the area around this royal road. They have since settled here but the road remains.”

While the explanation as to why the people were here seemed to satisfy the King, his laments were only exasperated. “Lord Sebastien, I am bored by commoners. A gentle eye can only see so many of them in a day. We are made their spectacle, Lord Sebastien. And yet they are either unable or unwilling to reciprocate.”

“If it may calm your worries, my liege, I noticed that the windows of our vehicle are crafted so that we can see out, but those outside cannot see in.”

“That does not relieve of humiliation a King captive in a jeep and being carried through the mobs.”

The moptorcade passed by the central business districts of the city more quickly as it proceeded down wider six and eight lane roads. Perfectly kept medians divided the two halves, separating opposing traffic, and the trip seemed to take less time than expected. By the time that they passed by the central portion of the districts, towers almost 1,500 or more feet in height soared above them. "Monavian Jewery" obvioulsy possessed great power.

Although the glass and metal towers seemed frail, other ones were covered with faces of granite and marble. Some were brick, and the variety, which ranged from neoclassical and baroque to more modern twentieth century architecture soon met with their gazes.

Passing along several blocks of yet more office buildings, bureaucratic offices and government centers, they soon found themselves pasing by some parks and eventually slowed down to admit the passage of several other cars out of a driveway leading out of St. Andrew's Patriarchical Cathedral.

The structure was a lofty symbol of both exquisit elegance and a dichotomy of simplicity and ornateness. Its towering marble structure rose in a manner comparable to white chalk cliffs, as its plumb walls seemed to reach in to the skies. There was precious little time to permit a viewing of the place, as the motorcade was soon on its way. Ten more minutes still remained.

The chauffer driving the limousine had kept silent for some time, but at last had refrained from holding his tongue.

"On the contrary to your notion, Your Majesty, such devices as you have observed are the work of civil engineers, and such is what you will find in some treatises about them which can be found in the palace libraries."

It was difficult for the King not to look out on the buildings. While he had more approval for the more elegant neoclassical and baroque styles, he barely paid any attention to them. When one is in such a foul mood as was the King, the negative aspects of one’s environment are often more pronounced in the positive ones.

The King did not realise that he had just been spoken to by the driver of the limousine, but Lord Rodderwick was more perceptive of commoners. “Sir, you are knave who could not possibly be of service to us on topics of architectural design. I can tell that your comment has fatigued His Majesty due to your woeful ignorance. If you simply pilot this truck you would prevent any further humiliation to yourself and your family.”

"Perhaps I cannot be of service to you on that matter myself, but I know those who can. I serve them when I pilot this 'truck'."

The man was not amused by tormenting Lord Rodderwick, yet he seemed to relish his opportunity to strip away some of the pompous exterior which he had been confronted with earlier. For effect, he added, "If for some reason His Majesty was offended by my explanation for what he has witnessed, I may as well continue driving and leave you in silence."

The chauffer closed a partition between the cab and the passenger compartment and diverted his attention.

OOC:

The chauffer is a crochety old man who act cantankerously when confronted about his education. If he wasn't such an arse, he would be doing different work.

“Pah!” exclaimed Lord Rodderwick after the chauffer had terminated the conversation. “At least he had the sense to close that thing. His putrid stench was sickening me.”

The King could not ignore the exchange between the two after Rodderwick had responded. He so desperately had wanted to interrupt, but he could not bring himself to the humiliation of addressing a commoner. The King kept silent after the exchange had occurred. A few minutes later, after finding himself looking out the windows again, he muttered, “There’s something vulgar about them, isn’t there?”

“Yes, my liege,” answered Rodderwick. “The city rabble are vulgar people, but they know not any better.”

“Well for my sake I hope we get out of this accursed town soon.” The King sighed. “The Monavians seem so worried about the safety of the Royal personage, but not about the state of that flesh’s soul.”

Soon enough, as the slow, sickening torment that had befallen the occupants of the limousine had seemed to drag on for hours, their brief, yet seemingly eternal discomfort abruptly drew to an end. The motorcade soon arrived on a road a little farther from the center of the city, driving in front of a vast lawn of winter grass. The elegant lawn was hemmed in by a fence of wrought iron, ten feet in height, behind which lay a narrow stone path, along which guards occasionally walked as they made their patrol rounds.

The front limousine arrived at the gates, turning and driving forward, before stopping to allow the ornate iron doors resembling the tracery of cathedral windows to swing open. The car then drove through another set of gates, even taller and gilded in places, which was mounted between two white granite pillars.

After driving along the cobblestone driveway to the front entrance, the limousione turned to the left, to allow the two others to park behind them, forming a line parallel top the front of the building. On either side of the driveway, where it intersected with the path in front of the palace, which led to the side entrances, there was a fountain of marble and alabaster. Flowers extended along either side of the driveway. Such was the scene that greeted all visitors to the palace.

While the delegation was waiting to disembark from the infernal metal machine which had so quickly become the object of their disdain, Mr. Carter was instructing the chefs to prepare some food for dinner.

"...use the beef and veal for tonight. The roast lamb is still frozen, the last time that I looked."

Mr. Carter could overhear the chef barking orders to several subordinates. "Empty the cart out already! What is taking you so long?"

"I take it that you are hurried."

"Yes, quite much so," said the agitated chef. "I have not yet prepared the whole meal. Your arrival was too sudden."

"I thought that the lines were working."

"They were damaged in the last storm. The cell tower was rendered useless after a tree was blown down onto the power lines. It was just repaired half an hour ago."

The King noticed that their vehicle had stopped. “Could it be that our journey has reached is conclusion? Where are we?”

Lord Rodderwick was first to respond. “My liege, our driver is such a fool that he is attempting to ask for directions.”

“No, Lord Rodderwick, that scenario is doubtful. I believe that we might be at the residence of some Lord Peer of the Monavian realm. The iron fence suggests that he is a city man.”

Rodderwick sneered. “Would you look at this lawn? Obviously these men know of their inherent inferiorities having planted themselves in this hive. The attempts of the bourgeois to recreate the beauties of country life are always farcical.”

“Yes it is,” agreed the King. “However, those city men who keep lawns such as this are always better than those who do not. I have met several such men who neglect all forms of natural purity in their lives and erect a smokestack in front of their home.”

“But it still disappoints me, my liege, when I see someone create an artificial garden over a mound of sewage. Now, look you at these flowers.”

“What about them?” asked Sebastien.

“Lord Sebastien, are you not struck by how these flowers disrupt the whole scene? Any gardener who employs blossoms of any kind in his work is an amateur. You see, flowers are only placed here so that the eye may focus on them and admire them. They are only distractions, since the true purpose of a garden is not to provide fancy petals for the eye, but instead powerful images for the mind. How much more magnificent is the garden that engages a man’s soul in the full power and grandeur of nature! Laying out a line of flowers would be like taking a pencil and marking all over the great paintings of genius.”

The King looked surprised. “Now, Lord Rodderwick, flowers are good and pleasant. Why, there are over twelve billion flowers planted just in the vicinity of my Eastern Palace alone. Every morning a great throng of servants is marched out to apply paints and cosmetics to enhance the flower’s natural beauty. Flowers can be beautiful as long as they are arranged in a reasonable way, and these flowers here are not in any way disconcerting.”

“Why, yes, of course, my liege. I am sorry if my words seemed to imply that I felt flowers were not beautiful. Would not a garden be sickly without flowers?”

The chauffer exited the limousine, appearing gruff at the thought of being brushed aside by such esteemed guests as these, yet he remained composed. The doors of the vehocle were opened and several servants began to unloade the baggage while the people within made their exits. They were greeted by the sight of their hosts leaving their limousine, arrayed in their finery, and apparently making a gradual approach to where they stood.

It should not be forgotten that the palace was relatively unchanged in terms of decorum since the Coptenshirick guests had previously visited. Before them lay a staircase of white marble, the balustrades of which were carved and shaped with a delicate ornateness which have them an appearance of great fragility. The stairs were surmounted by a broad portico, consisting of six corinthian columns trimmed with golden ornaments upon their capitals. The ceiling underneath was patterned with intersecting lines, decoratewd with figures of laurel leaves, and adorned with rosettes where they intersected regularly at right angles.

The whole ediface of the palace was rebuilt after slow decay from aging and the damages done by previous renovations under Charles VII during the early twentieth century. The entire elevation on the front and several portions elsewhere were also remodeled in this process.

Around the front side were gardens of roses, varying in color. Some were distinctly different, as certain items of refuse, such as wine pressings, had been buried beneath the gardens, producing elaborate patterns within the petals and providing them with such a rich arrangement of colors as to awe visiting guests. Clearly, however, the Cotenshiricks had been a people with much knowledge of gardening and agriculture, and as such, it was not expected that they would be surprised.

Although simple in its exterior and yet constructed from such fine materials as it was, the palace seemed deceptively modest. Few who lacked knowledge of Monavian history would understand the purpose of residing in such a humble abode, but practicality was as important as comfort, and the building was deemed adequate for the ourposes of serving as an official residence.

Indeed, it was perhaps regrettable that the influences of the city had displaced the older, feudalistic system of organization, but modernness had dictated that as this was the capital, and that the seat of government should reside here, so that it would constitute a suitable position of control, and thus with the palace located where it was, albeit in limited but still sufficient space, it permitted the monarchy to become the seldom disputed center of attention, vying only with the other portions of government for attention from the masses.

The conspicuous location of the palace did not, however, automatically confer ease of viewing the building itself upon the passers by, since trees grew upon the lawn, which was meticulously mowed every week, and its flowers occasionally harvested to supply the vases and arrangements within the abode of the Monavian royals.

The opportunity to climb out of the limousine was gleefully accepted by the Salisburgic party. The three of them exited the vehicle while taking care not to acknowledge at the chauffer. Sebastien had exited last and after clearing himself of the door held out a penny worth Dominion 1d for the chauffer to take. Lord Sebastien was kind enough not to look upon the humiliation that the chauffer would incur upon himself in accepting this act of charity. Instead he held the coin out in the air in the general direction of the chauffer and wiggled it around, hoping that this would get the message across without actually having to look at him or, worse yet, communicate with him.

Meanwhile the King and Lord Rodderwick looked upon the odd sight of the Monavian Royal Palace. Now that he thought about it, the King was sure that he had been here before. Indeed, these details were all quite vividly impressed in his memory. He was sure that Sebastien had come along as well. Despite of these clear images, the King for the life of him could not remember anything further than this. What had they done during this visit?

“My liege,” said Lord Rodderwick. “What do you think of these trees?”

“Well, Lord Rodderwick, I am not sure. Have you already developed an opinion on these trees?”

“Since you asked, my liege, I suppose I have. While I do not appreciate how they are so artificially placed, I find them greatly preferably to the naked appearance of the Palace’s façade.”

“Rodderwick, while small and quaint, this Palace was obviously designed by some enlightened mind. I would prefer that the trees pay obeisance to the centerpiece that is the architecture. But let us not discuss the trees. I am more interested in the flowers. I have seen designs reminiscent of these in some of my own gardens. How do they get the roses to be arrayed like they are here?”

“My liege, as I have explained, I do not find flowers in good taste. I therefore have no knowledge of such horticultural practices.”

“Lord Sebastien,” called the King. “Come tell me how these flowers become coloured in this way.”

Lord Sebastien came over to the King and Rodderwick. “Well, my liege, I have never actually supervised in the creation of one of these gardens, but I can offer an explanation based on what experience I have with flowers. I believe that certain items of refuse, such as wine pressings, have been buried beneath the gardens, producing these elaborate patterns within the petals and providing them with the rich arrangements of colours so as to inspire awe in visiting guests.”

“Well, that is quite an ingenious technique. You are quite knowledgeable in gardening and agriculture, Lord Sebastien.”

“Thank you, my liege. I am glad that I was able to enlighten you. But look, here come the Monavians.”

“Finally,” said the King, “someone worth my conversation.”

The chauffer had by now finished unloading the baggage from the limousine. He saw Lord Sebastien holding out the penny, perplexed at why any guest would tip him for his services, which were the duty of his employers to provide by hiring servants. His face twisted into a shallow, bleak smile, which concealed a hidden scowl of contempt. "How kind of you to offer me this," he said, hiding his apparent offence at being offered such a paltry sum. "I can do much good with it." He took the penny and pocketed it, intending to pass it along to the nearest begger he could find, clearly disregarding any anguish which Lord Sebastien may suffer as a result.

The Monavians had come up to King William as the chauffer reentered the driver's seat and began to drive the limousine away. The previous events which had made turbulent their moods and warped their minds with bitterness over the attempts made upon their lives had faded so much that there was almost no indication that anything adverse had transpired before their arrival. The stately swagger which now characterized their walk seemed almosty out of place.

"I would like to welcome you once again to our official residence. I am sure that you will find the accommodations to be much to your liking after you have settled in and shared in our bounty."

Turning to Lord Rodderwick, Queen Elizabeth added, "I would believe that a tour of the grounds and such might suit you much, as you have not spend any time here before. Now, if you will follow me this way, I will show you around."

The party made its way up the steps, past the four stone columns which flanked the staircase, upon which sat bowls of wood and oil, which provided heat by day to guests standing outside and light in addition to the former by night. Before them stood two massive oaken doors, which were flanked by guards. The queen procured a large key from her pocket and handed it to a valet who unlocked the doors for the arriving guests.

Bump (temporary).

Lord Sebastien had hoped the chauffer would not have said anything, since it would only have added to the humiliation of the poor man’s situation. The former Lord Chancellor quickly walked with the group away from the chauffer, continuing to keep the pathetic soul out of his sight.

"I would like to welcome you once again to our official residence. I am sure that you will find the accommodations to be much to your liking after you have settled in and shared in our bounty."

“Yes, of course,” exclaimed the King. “I already feel welcome. Your hospitality is amiable.”

"Turning to Lord Rodderwick, Queen Elizabeth added, "I would believe that a tour of the grounds and such might suit you much, as you have not spend any time here before. Now, if you will follow me this way, I will show you around."

“That would be remarkably kind of you, Your Royal Highness,” said Lord Rodderwick.

"Thank you both, your desires for a relaxing, pleasant evening will not be far off." She led them up the steps, past the massibe stone torches. She remembered King William's comment about ordering 4,000 of them for one of his palaces, and wondered if they were already complete.

The King liked what he heard. “Yes, indeed. A relaxing night would be quite agreeable to make up for your bothersome stay at Inverness. I believe the general consensus is that our night there was not relaxing and instead was somewhat tense. I honestly made attempts to rectify the evening by planning a large feast that night followed by a hunt in the morning, but Sir Grunovich would have none of it.”

As the King passed the torches he had no recollection of having ordered 4,000 of them built. When one spent so many hundreds of billions of pounds per day as the King, one never remembered any single purchase, let alone followed the project through to its completion.

"Tomorrow should not hinder our preparations. I will speak with a few individuals tonight and plan some engagements for tomorrow. Charles, you would not mind dealing with Parliament for a few more hours, would you."

"I would not mind at all. I'm sure that things will proceed smoothly, after I speak with the Chancellor."

The group had arrived in front of the oaken front doors, which were already unlocked by the valet who had made his way ahead of the approaching guests. He pulled at one of them and made way for them to enter.

Lord Sebastien asked, "Your Royal Highness, is there a problem in the Monavian Parliament? I am sorry if this seems like an intruding question, but you seem concerned about it."

"Parliament is a legislative body which constantly is in operation. Almost every dya, they will send some law that they have passed or a bill in need of approval to me or my husband, who wield the authority to sign them into law or veto them down.

"I can have all such business tabled for a few days, to permit us to enjoy the conforts of company at our leisure, but others will need to know."

The Monavians led the way into the entrance hall. The rectangular room had a high ceiling, at the center of which was located a chandelier. Diorectly underneath it was a white fountain, of similar marble as the front steps, which consisted of a circular pool of water and four tiers, carved from the stone. Crowning the ediface was a golden statue of an angel blowing his trumpet. The whole assemblage was complimented by the floor of pale beige alabaster and the frescos which ran around the top of the walls.

To either side of the room, as well as the rear, there was a doorway, ornamented with carved wooden cornices and friezes. A walnut molding ran around the top of the walls, separating the frescos from the horizontal surface of the ceiling proper. The frescos depicted historical events in Monavian history, ranging from the signing of treaties to glorious battles, and the triumphs, setbacks, and compromises which spanned the history of such a noble people. As they proceeded, the brightly polished floor reflected the images of the people walking above it like a mirror.

King William offered his critique of the Monavian Parliamentary system. "That seems inefficient to me," said he. "A parliament should not need to disturb their monarch for every convocation, and a monarch should not be forced to read every tract his parliament produces.

"You might want to observe how my Parliament works if you want a model of an efficient legislative system. I do not need to look over every law they pass, but I am able to strike down any passed law if I so desire. Similarly, if the Parliament refuses to vote on a law or their vote is somehow unsatisfactory, then I can have them vote on it again or simply override their vote and enact the law by myself. In this way, the monarch is still powerful in regards to the activities carried out by his parliament but is not required to supervise their proceedings."

"That concept was more clear to them a couple of generations ago, but it has faded. I must devise a way to give them a reminder."

Lord Sebastien chimed in. "Yes, our parliamentary system would be ideal if it genuinely worked the way King William has outlined it."

"What is this you say?" interjected the King. "Lord Sebastien, my Parliament knows that the monarch is our government's keystone. I have all the authority that I claim to have."

"Well, yes, my liege, you do. That is, you do have those powers under ideal circumstances. But let us say that you wanted to pass a law that permanently disbanded the institution of Parliament. What would happen after such a decree?"

"Lord Sebastien, you know I would never do that."

"But this hypothetical law is not impossible for you to propose."

"Then I would expect Parliament to disband itself permanently. Is that not what you would have the provisions of the law to be?"

"Yes, that is what I am saying the law's provisions are. But do you think that the Parliament would actually disband itself forever?"

"Certainly, Lord Sebastien. If their king decrees it, then they will not disobey."

"Well, my liege, I am telling you that they would not stand for it and would revolt."

The King appeared slightly angry at the notion. "Lord Sebastien, I am their King. They swore allegiance to me. A kingdom would not function properly if no one kept true to their words."

"That is correct, however, there are some who would renounce their loyalties for personal profit. Even your brother did so, and now your kingdom is threatened. When I hear of this, I turn to the Biblical passage about what a man would profit from gaining the world, and then losing his soul. Not much, really."

“Well put, Your Majesty,” said Lord Rodderwick.

“Yes, well said indeed,” noted King William. “A man would not gain much from putting profit ahead of his soul. If anything, he would most likely only break even.”

Lord Sebastien did not want the conversation to get too off track before he made sure that the King understood the concept. “Yes, I am sure you are correct, Your Majesty, but what I am trying to say is that your power is actually limited by what your peers are willing to tolerate.”

“Lord Sebastien, if I ever did something disagreeable, someone would notify me. Hitherto in my reign I have received few complaints. I believe that this shows how everyone recognizes the need for a powerful monarch unrestrained by the petty squabbles of his subjects.”

“I agree, my liege, but it would be unwise of you to be heavy handed in the future.”

"Let us not dwell on such disputatious and mentally taxing matters as these much further. If you come this way, you will shortly be in a place where we can finally remain at rest. That is, unless you would prefer to do something else. It's a shame that there are few persuits that are suited for the city which can take place out of doors, save those activities which the common man would participate in."

The king led his guests through a pair of white oak doors, which were inlaid with cherrywood and ebony to create floral patterns. A valet opened them before walking ahead to deal with a different matter. Before them lay another room.

The King appeared relieved by the change of subject. "Thank you. It is always tiresome to dwell on issues of governance. Now, I do not want to burden you with more travel if that is not at this time agreeable, but there are many activities that can be pursued in an afforested wilderness. Might I suggest a hunt?"

Lord Sebastien stepped in and spoke to the Monavians, but specifically addressed King Charles. "Your Majesty, do not feel encumbered by His Majesty's desire to hunt. We shall do only what you deem your faculties able to permit."

King William did not show signs of disapproval of Sebastien's words, but he did not voice assent either.

"Due to the lack of preparations for such an activity, I will have to postpone it for tomorrow. I can have much done then, but the day is getting late and it will only be about four of five more hours until evening." He looked at a painting of his grandfather, Charles VII, astride a horse and saluting a line of troops preparing for exercises. He liked much to hunt, and aside from renovating the palace, he had few great and long-lasting persuits in his personal world, as politics was his passion.

"In the meantime, I can show you some trophies of previous hunts. Among them is a pair of moose antlers which hang above a fireplace in the rear parlor." After walking through a few more rooms, they came there. The quaintly furnished space was adorned with nineteenth century furniture, including a gaudy ebony chest which was hidden beneath a linen cover (the queen thought that it was hideous, but the aging heirloom was a gift from the Vendian King that was given during a state visit in 1904).

Above the black granite mantlepiece was a pair of pale antlers which terminated in about two dozen points. The bull moose from which it came weighed around 2,000 pounds, and took five horses and a cart to remove from the woods in order to be divided up.

“That would be splendid,” said the King to King Charles, although he was aching for a hunt.

“My liege, do you fancy the layout of this room and the design of the furniture?” asked Lord Rodderwick to King William, testing to see how he should calibrate his own opinions should he choose to voice them.

“It is certainly peculiar but very warm,” said the King.

“Well, my liege, I think—“

“Look at this, Lord Rodderwick,” interrupted the King. He pointed at the military painting of what was evidently a Monavian King and his troops. “We need more paintings of Cotenshirick monarchs displaying their military prestige. I could just imagine myself on a horse leading a glorious cavalry charge. Lord Rodderwick, take note of that and commission the land’s greatest court painters to paint me leading a cavalry charge.”

“But my liege,” said Rodderwick, “your royal forces do not contain any traditional horse cavalry.”

“What?!” The King’s exclamation was rather uncouth. “Lord Rodderwick, we are at a significant disadvantage without cavalry. We must levy horses and create cavalry regiments at once.”

“Excellent idea, my liege,” said Lord Rodderwick. “It is a shame that the only place for horses in our army is in parades.”

Lord Sebastien could not remain silent at this point. “If I may be contrary, My Liege and Lord Rodderwick, I would like to explain why there are no cavalry in any Royal regiments or brigades. Military personnel have changed with advancing doctrines and technology. Cavalry is simply not used anymore, for better or for worse.”

The King had a glimmer in his eye. “Lord Sebastien, if what you are saying is true, then our enemies will never expect our cavalry. When our brave hussars fly over the hills, their spirits will break and they will take to retreat. Rodderwick, I still want those cavalry regiments.”

“It will be done, my liege. And for those paintings, against whom do you want to unleash your cavalry?”

The King bit his lip and thought for a moment before saying: “Saracens. That is always in good taste.”

King Charles chuckled. "Cavalry can still be useful in suppressing rebellions and riots, as civilians are usually intimidated by the presence of mounted police, let along well-equipped army officers. Peasent rabbles also make good targets for cavalry charges, although the only place where they would be vulnerable, and perhaps severely disadvantaged, is in combat against a highly mechanized opponent with armored divisions and aircraft leading the assaults."

“Mechanized opponent with armour divisions?” asked the King.

“He means amoured vehicles, my liege. They are like those limousines we enjoyed today, except they are much more heavily armored and have guns and other projectile weapons mounted on them.”

“Well, those sounds horrid, Lord Sebastien. Who’s arsenal would contain them?”

“My liege, they were introduced into our military forces over a half-decade ago and continue to be used.”

“Well how could they defeat a cavalry charge? Those jeeps are not nearly as noble as the magnanimous hussar.”

Lord Sebastien could not figure out how to explain this to the King without sounding condescending, so he just said, “I do not know, my liege. Perhaps you should ask one of your constables or field marshals.”

The King then addressed King Charles, “This has come as quite a shock to me. Do you know if your armies contain cavalry or armoured limousines?”

"Nearly all information about the composition and deployments of my forces are available, given that such information can be sent to me in time to be of use. There are some disadvantages to the system, as the amount of information to sort through can become too great and sometimes I can be swamped with irrelevant information if I do not specify what exactly I want to know.

"Now, armored limousines, such as what you have ridden in, are mostly engineered for civilian use by the wealthy and powerful, and such vehicles used by the members of the armed forces are usually engineered differently. I would take some time to elaborate, but there are vehicles with armor which can deflect the shots of cannons and howitzers, up to a point, as well as the shots of rifles."

The King was quickly becoming bored with this talk of armoured limousines and different kinds of military limousines. He did not know why the Monavians even bothered with limousines at all. If they could reflect the blast of a howitzer or rifle, which the King highly doubted that they could, then would it not be more expedient to put this armour on men and horses? But the King did not pursue the issue any further in his mind, since the topic was so languid and irrelevant.

“Well, King Charles,” said he, “I know nothing of such things. I am sorry that I am such a bore on this issue. If our discussion was on hunting, then I would be more adept. For now, however, I cannot feign that brand of eloquence you display.”

Lord Rodderwick interpreted this confession differently. “Now, my Lord King, your humility is admirable, yet we both know that your might is irresistible, and your martial disciplines consummate. With your warriors at your side, no barbarian can withstand your wrath.”

"Ah, yes, the glory of the hunt. It has been some time since I have found much in the forests outside my chalet in the mountains. It was unfortunate that the weather had driven away much of the game, as an exceptionally harsh winter up north forced out most of the deer and moose, and kept the bears in hibernation. Even the birds are scarcer than normal, which troubles me when I hear of them dying in droves at times.

"Apparently a blizzard has killed off many of the smaller birds which were caught unaware, and the small creatures of the ground have hidden in their burrows. With the coming of spring, they will be tempted to leave and find food. There will be plenty of targets to choose from, and hopefully another pair of antlers can hang in this room soon."

He looked out the window and saw a cat run across the lawn. It was a slim, almost emaciated animal, probably a stray, or more likely, a feral animal. It leaped onto a tree and began to scale the rough surface of the bark as it climbed toward a branch with what appeared to be a nest in it. The snow laden boughs were quickly scraped clean by the cat's paws, which dislodged the snow from the branches and showered the ground below with it. The nest was in sight.

The cat was within feet of the nest when the branch began to warp and bend downward, and then snapped. The cat held onto the branch with its claws ans the nest, apparently abandoned, fell from it onto the ground, followed shortly thereafter by the cat, who could not hold on anymore. It tumbled through the air, and scurried away after hitting the ground, much displeased with its failed hunt.

The King’s retinue did not pay attention to the cat and instead tried to ignore it, since cats were the pets kept by prostitutes. Instead the King responded to King Charles. “Now, sir, if I shoot a great moose and would like to keep his antlers, I respectfully ask that I be able to take them with me. I assume there are laws against such an act, but those codes are intended to prevent the commoners from making off with what should rightfully be the King’s bounty.”

"Whatever you shoot for yourself you may keep, as I promise to all guests who accompany me on a hunt. Speaking of hunting by commoners, they generally must purchase licenses from the government in order to hunt...and usually hunt on their own land only, if they own any." King Charles did not bother to mention that there were public lands which were open for hunting by anyone possessing a license, though their bounties were limited by individual quotas. Such was not worth elaborating on, and he would rather discuss the finer points of how to take down game.

The King said, “Now, King Charles, my gracious host, I am going to make to you a proposition and there shall be no dissent. I want to purchase these licenses for myself as well as for Lord Rodderwick and Lord Sebastien. I will hear of no further generosity from you. I simply cannot bear to steal any of my kills that would be considered royal property.”

Lord Sebastien, if less considerate than the King, was at least more level-headed. “My liege, I understand that you intend to be amiable, but it truly is up to King Charles to decide. Might I ask the cost of one of these licenses to hunt?”

"The cost of a license is based upon the amount of game you wish to hunt and what animals you are trying to kill. A rabbit is vastly cheaper than a polar bear, and killing ten boars is cheaper than killing 500 of them. I need my book from the trophy room nearby, which contains some tables." He looked out the window blankly, pondering how to explain the book's purpose.

"I have a small book which lists licenses and their prices for different parts of the Empire, as some places have less game than others and thus have higher costs to offset the population losses. I must consult it to remember the prices for the different types of licenses, as I haven't sold any myself in so long." Looking at the doorway, he saw a valet walk by. "You sir, bring out the thin, blue book from the office near the trophy room. It is located near the stuffed wolf."

A minute later, the valet returned with the book, a slim volume with pages detailing hunting licenses. While he was searching and delivering the book, King Charles asked Mr. Carter to go off and ask abouyt the state of the dinner being prepared. King Charles then looked at Sebastien. "What game do you and your sovereign wish to hunt in the mountains?"

“Well, Your Majesty,” said Lord Sebastien, “I do not pretend to be an exceptionally skilled hunter. I will shoot whatever I am able to shoot, since unlike the mighty marksman William V, I am not guaranteed anything on a hunt.”

“My good friend,” said King William to King Charles, “I will buy every license you have and then pay for their restocking.”

"A license to hunt all forms of game in the provinces where we will be going to hunt will cost a total of T$125,000.00 per annum, and for yourself, Lord Sebastiern, Lord Rodderwick, and any others...well, you know how many people you will be purchasing licenses for. For you three alone, it will be 375,000 thalers.

“I shall buy these hunting licenses for all of my men, my noble host,” said King William.

Lord Sebastien interrupted again, addressing King Charles. “Your Majesty, if you are neither truly inclined to hold this hunt, or you lack the proper capacities, then I do not want it to take place.”

“Now, Lord Sebastien,” said King William, “why would he not have the ability to hold a hunt, or, even less likely, lack the desire?”

Meanwhile, Lord Rodderwick was observing the room. It was unclear by his expressions an gestures whether he found it aesthetically pleasing or not.

"Lord Sebastien, I certainly possess sufficient capacities to carry out hunting expeditions at my leisure. We may begin tomorrow, and I plan for it to take place in the northern provinces. It will be quite cold up there during the early morning hours and late at night, and snow will still be falling, but the day will be fairly warm and temperate.

"You may prepare whatever tools you wish to have at your disposal for the expedition, and I will provide whatever you may lack that is needed."

“Wonderful!” exclaimed the King. “But I have one concern, King Charles. You see, in my haste and carelessness I have not flown here a large enough contingent of footmen needed to properly assist me during the hunt. I do not mean that they are to help me make the kill, but, well, surely you know what I mean. I…need them for…logistical purposes,” said the King finally, stumbling over his words.

Lord Sebastien anticipated what the King was going to ask and again tried to allow King Charles a comfortable alternative to pursue if he could not grant the request. “Now, if King Charles cannot supply you with the manpower you need, then we can make do with what we have, my liege.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” admitted the King, “and I am certain that I can fly over here enough servants in time for the day after tomorrow’s hunt, or at least the hunt for the day after that. I do not want King Charles to have to excise labourers from many estates for my needs. Instead, all I ask is that some peasants be borrowed from some local villages”

Lord Sebastien again chimed in. “The King’s request is too grand,” said he. “I am aware of the unpleasantries that occasionally arise when bargaining with a large landowner over some levy perceived as impetuous or arbitrary. In my estimate, only four thousand such conscripts should suffice, or even less as constrained by your custom.”

It was Lord Rodderwick’s turn. “Only four thousand heads, sir? That might do for a fox and hound affair, but as you have heard, we are going after bulls. The King is has brought nineteen kegs of wine, several different coats and other assorted uniforms, a veritable arsenal of firearms and other weaponry, an entire box full of wigs, and all the other items that we should not burden the King to carry himself. Then there are the manpower needs related to any hunt. We need the advancing line of footmen, which on any large hunt should never consist of less than three thousand men. We need men to transport additional horses should they be needed, as well as more still to pick up the horses’ dung and siphon away their urine. Then we need guards to keep out poachers and others who might interfere in His Majesty’s hunt. We must also consider the ranger line to encircle our hunts so that they do run away. All of these necessary posts will require no less than sixteen thousand men. Did you think we were hunting squirrels?”

Rodderwick’s last statement had humourous intent, but Lord Sebastien did not appreciate being contradicted in so direct a manner.

"Ah, yes, the horses. They should not be a problem to transport them to where we will be needing them. I can have them loaded onto a train by nightfall, unless you would rather have them carrried on trucks or planes. Regardless, they should all be there by the forenoon tomorrow. The rest of the baggage can be loaded onto a separate train, which should be able to hold everything that your planes carried." King Charles thought briefly about how he would calculate the necessary amount of manpower needed to move the baggage.

He addressed Lord Rodderwick's concerns next. "Lord Rodderwick, I do believe that a force of three thousand men, as was described for the purpose of simply advancing upon the quarries would make such a rucus as to frighten away the prey which we seek. Stealth, not numbers, can just as easily permit the beasts to be slain without the need to encircle them. To guard the forests should be not problem, as the constables in the areas partol the roads and the rangers of the parks and royal lands are busy up there regulating hunting practices and eliminating any difficulties caused by poachers.

"If I am understanding your description of the things which were brought over by King William for the hunt correctly, five hundred men with carriages and trucks can deliver them to the train and then unload them from it when we arrive. Another 500 can be used to chase down the game. If only a score of lions can chase down and kill just as many gazelles or bison, even though their prey outnumbers them by a hundred to one, then with only a thousand men we will be a match for even the fiercest bear, or the boldest pack of wolves," he said, his eyes beginning to glow as if they were possessed by an unearthly fire. His face seemed to radiate glee, as if he was going to enjoy a hunt that tested both his own skill and that of his guests.

"The amount of people needed may seem small, but it will be more than sufficient, and provide a test of will and prowess that I'm sure yourself and King William will enjoy. It will be a..." he paused, trying to find the right words, "a worthy and formidable challenge. Nothing can stand against us on the hunt."

"Now, Your Imperial Majesty, I do find that we may need some more precise numbers to aid in the preparations."

"Right, I will let you know tonight. Is your wife coming to dinner?"

"She has telephoned me and said that she will be here in an hour."

"Excellent!" the king exclaimed.

Lord Rodderwick attempted to challenge King Charles. “Well, Your Royal Highness, I—“

“Lord Rodderwick,” started Sebastiend, “They surely have different hunting customs here. While they might not suit you perfectly, if you are truly a master hunter then you will have no trouble adapting.”

Sebastien had won that debate. Rodderwick did not want to say anything, for, indeed, he felt like he was a “master hunter” and to argue further would be to dispute this claim. He privately thought that King Charles was a silly novice, at least as far as hunting was concerned, but that need not be said now. Their skills would be demonstrated in the grassy meadows of the Monavian wilderness.

"One way to measure a hunter's skill is how well he can kill his prey in conditions which do not favor his previous experience. This may seen foreign and perhaps even alien to those who have not tried this method, yet it has served out pourposes in the past." One of the butlers came in.

"Her Imperial and Royal Highness has returned. She will be here shortly."

"Perhaps you would be inclined to meet more of the family," the queen said.

"Absolutely!" stated King William immediately. "More individuals of regal blood always liven any situation."

"The Crown Princess left for her chalet at the southern coast a week ago to escape the cold weather that was blowing through the city earlier. She had not been informed of your arrival until about an hour ago, when she was contacted about the unexpected interference we had encountered. She will know more later, but I would not be in any hurry."

The queen's mood seemed to ease up, being back home, but what would undo the strain which still faintly lingered in her mind was extra wine over dinner, especially if her husband suggested some of the stronger champagne to accompany dessert. The palace seemed unusually quet, given the usual compliment of residents.

(OOC: Sorry about the inconsistency in responses, I have had to deal with a few issues including final exams.)

The silence caused discomfort to the visiting King, who put forward a new subject for conversation. “Lord Wallenheim shall make a full recovery,” said he. “I hear that a replacement arm is being built for him.”

“Hmph!” replied Lord Rodderwick. “I have heard of wooden legs, but a wooden arm is a peculiar spectacle that I have not yet encountered.”

“It is not made of wood, Lord Rodderwick,” said the King. “It is composed of that strange alloy, that…what is it called?”

“Plastic,” informed Lord Sebastien. “It is a polymer, and it should prove more durable and therefore more agreeable to Lord Wallenheim than an appendage carved from wood.”

“Ah,” said Rodderwick. “To think that I have never seen a bamboo leg, and now Lord Wallenheim is receiving an arm made of such material.”

“No, Lord Rodderwick,” said the King, “I believe plastic is a form of metal, not bamboo. It is lighter than most metals, however, so it should be easier for Wallenheim to utilize.”

King Charles though about the choice of plastic for suych a purpose. He knew that it could be used to construct durable mechanical parts and coverings, but he was unaquainted with many of its applications and purposes. He instead thought about how best to describe the nature of this remarkable material, and referred to a lecture by one of his tutors about chemistry.

"Plastic is neither metal, which is natural and comes from the earth, nor is it organic, coming from living things. It is an entirely artificial substance. My childhood education notwithstanding, I must send my regrets to hear that his original arm could not be reattached and heal. I hope that there was no infection."

"I'm sure that it is not all plastic," said Mr. Carter. "It probably contains numerous metal parts and electronic wiring."

"For all I know he may need a metal exterior for the...what is the word?"

"Prosthesis, I believe."

"Yes, prosthesis. Plastic can crack, can't it?"

"Yes, but it is light an durable. I doubt it can be cut easily like the original flesh and bones which Archibald could so easily slice away."

"Are you implying that he would use it as a weapon?"

"No, but Archibald might be surprised to see him return seeming whole, especially if the limb is disguised to appear natural."

"Your Imperial Majesty, a car has pulled up in back," the butler said, returning. "The valets are removing the baggage from it and several other vehicles which are pulling up behind it."

Bump for prevention of possible loss of thread.